Intention was declared by South Africa Rugby Union chief executive Jurie Roux, who said that they "definitely expect" to be bidding for the sport's showpiece event, as they have unsuccessfully for the last three editions.

"The 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup were magnificent occasions for our nation and for the respective sports and the prospect of being able to repeat those unforgettable occasions is very exciting," the official added.

"Bidding will mean a lot of hard work and I am sure the competition will be fierce but this country has a unique experience to offer the game's travelling supporters."

News of the likely Rugby World Cup bid comes in the same week as Durban's bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games was officially launched in London ©Getty Images



World Rugby has announced this week that the month-long window for unions to formally express interest will run from May 14 until June 15, with tender documentation to be released in May 2016, 12 months before the host is chosen in 2017.

A new step in the process will also see interested unions invited to participate in a workshop in June 2015 to discuss all aspects of Rugby World Cup hosting

Ireland and Italy are the only other nations to have declared their intentions to bid so far, although Argentina and the United States are others potentially considering doing so.

If either of the latter nations, or South Africa, proves successful, it would break a trend of the event alternating between European and non-European hosts, with the 2019 event to be held in Japan following a 2015 version later this year in England. 

A successful South African bid would place added pressure on the nation coming just a year after potentially the first African Commonwealth Games, with Durban now the only contender following the surprise withdrawal of Edmonton last month.

South Africa has also been muted as a potential bidder for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, although the nation's Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula told insidethegames this week that this bid is "unrealistic".

It remains to be seen whether hosting the Rugby World Cup - which was won by South Africa on home soil in 1995 - will prove more viable with Government officials, particularly with the demands of preparing for a major multi-sport event the previous year.

South African captain Francois Pienaar, pictured with the nation's former President Nelson Mandela, after the country won the 1995 World Cup on home turf ©AFP/Getty Images



"Rugby World Cup is one of the world's most recognisable and popular major sports events," said World Rugby President, Bernard Lapasset, when the bidding timetable was revealed. 

"With a six-week global shop window, upwards of 500,000 international visitors, multiple sporting, social and tourism benefits, economic benefits of up to £2 billion ($3 million/€2.7 billion) and minimal infrastructure overlay, it is also an attractive event for potential hosts.

"The fact that several unions and nations have publicly expressed a serious interest in hosting Rugby World Cup 2023 prior to these details being announced, further underscores the strength of the Rugby World Cup brand in the global major event marketplace.

"This announcement brings to life their plans."

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